Page 104 of It Should Have Been Me

She sighs with a mixture of disinterest and playfulness. “And what else is new, Scott? You’re confessing this like it’s some big secret. I’ve known this for three years now.”

“Did I make it that obvious?”

“You made it known while I was still pregnant.”

Getting to the point where we were ready to start a family took some time. Cat initially struggled to generate a client base. She worked in a bakery for a while, using her talents on fondant instead of clay. After that, she moved to a luxury car company. The prototype of any car is usually made from clay because it’s a cheaper way to play with ideas as they perfect the design. I thought that was a pretty cool job, but my wife enjoys her freedom too much and is incapable of working for a boss.

She eventually resigned and started giving art classes. But that just barely paid the bills. It’s ironic. As individuals, there were points in each of our lives where Cat and I had money to burn, yet as a newly married couple, we were dirt-broke. It took about a year before we found our feet. I renegotiated the repayment terms of my loan with Pete so I could have more disposable income. She started a YouTube channel to show off her talents, which led to her trading online, and that changed the game for her. Because she has to ship her sculptures to overseas clients, it’s still restrictive in terms of how big the project can be, but it gave her access to a bigger market.

Once her business took off, we started traveling because that’s another thing that is ingrained in her now. Being a teacher means that I have my whole summer vacation off, so it was easy for me to feed into her travel addiction. Technically, the big adventures haven’t stopped, they’re just on a schedule now. I still refuse to jump off of anything, but the compromise was that I’d be open to anything else, so I, too, have now eaten bugs – it was not my finest moment. Needless to say, we found a way to make it work. We managed to get to a point where our respective passions complemented each other instead of conflicting with each other.

And when we finally reached that happy equilibrium, I was ready to have kids. Cat lagged a few steps behind, still uncertain about taking such a big step. She was a little broody, but when Dylan and Isabella adopted their second child, it sealed the deal. I don’t know why she had so many reservations. She’s an amazing mother, and now our daughter has the same passion to explore, the same insatiable zest for life.

Anjanique has changed our lives so much. We sort of made it a family tradition to have little adventures at least three times a week. Anji is creative, like her mother, and I love the way her mind works. We’ve had camping trips on my rooftop, complete with a small portable fire and marshmallows for roasting. We’ve had masquerade balls in our living room. We’ve even had dance competitions, but it’s rigged because she wins every time. I guess that’s what happens when you have both parents wrapped around your finger.

“Now, please get her ready,” Cat says before she walks out of the bathroom.

“Well, you certainly got your mother’s hair,” I say once we’re alone again. The brush and I have an epic battle, trying to tame her curls until I eventually wrestle them into a hair-tie. “And spin, spin, spin.” I hold on to her hair, twisting it as she twirls in front of me before securing it into a bun.

“Daddy, I want to change my name,” Anji says as I slide in another clip.

That gets my attention. “Why do you want to change your name?”

“Charlie says it’s too hard to say?”

“Who’s Charlie?”

“He’s the new kid at daycare,” Cat shouts from the bedroom.

“Yes, he’s my boyvren.”

“Your boyfriend? Your boyfriend got a job that he’s running his mouth like that, cupcake?”

“Um...I don’t think so.”

“That’s what I thought. So, why don’t you tell Charlie?”

“Scott,” Cat warns.

I grit my teeth. “Your name is very special, so you can tell Charlie that we won’t be changing it.”

“Why is my name special?”

“Well, mommy chose your name because Anjanique means gift of God’s favor,” I explain. “But daddy chose it because it’s a mixture of Anjae and unique. Anjae means butterfly, which is perfect for you.” I rub my nose against hers. “Because you are the butterfly effect of a single choice.”

She giggles. “Daddy, sometimes you talk funny.”

“Youtalk funny.”

We walk out of the bathroom, and she heads straight to the tiny kitchen down the hall. Ever since we started traveling with a child, Cat always books these small self-catering chalets instead of hotel rooms. Anji is a fussy eater, so it just makes our lives easier.

Scooping her up, I place her on the counter. “So, what do you want for breakfast?”

“Cookies!”

“What did mom say about sugar before ten a.m.?”

“But she’s not the boss. You’re the boss.”

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